Real estate developer Linda Famie from Princeton inherited two parcels of land in Little Egg Harbor Township and the expertise to shop it from her developer father. She has been courting Great Wolf Lodge Inc. to buy her 68 acres next to Walmart on Route 9, she told Mayor Bobbi Jo Crea and the township committee during their municipal meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10.
Famie said the bank had taken back the land adjoining Cranberry Creek, but she had plans for the 63 acres that abut Otis Bog Road.
However, she claims when Committeeman Ray Gormley was mayor (2017 and ’18), he never returned her phone calls and refused to meet with her while she was in negotiations with Great Wolf.
Great Wolf runs 16 family resorts that include an indoor water park as an attraction.
Famie said when Gene Kobryn was mayor (2016), he was cooperating with her and her plans for Great Wolf. She said there was a $70 million ERB grant available. (The Energy Resilience Block grant through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Relief was adopted after Superstorm Sandy to make energy sources resilient). She claims to have had three or four meetings with Kobryn, Township Engineer Jason Worth and state officials from the Department of Environmental Protection. But after Kobryn lost his bid for re-election, Famie said, she could no longer get anyone to contact her.
“This would be, probably, the best thing we ever had to come to Little Egg Harbor, and we may have lost it,” Famie said. Great Wolf was “not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling. “I’m furious. I spent two years on this and you wouldn’t give me the courtesy of a call back?
“The project sunsets in June,” she said. “There’s no one running to Little Egg Harbor. There’s nothing here.”
Crea said the township has a new Commercial Revitalization Committee that Famie could attend.
Gormley asked if he could respond to Famie, “as this is clearly targeted at me.”
“The town’s professionals represent us. … This township has recently taken steps to put in place a town center with designated water and sewer. The town has done all the necessary steps to get things in place for these types of ratables.
“It is inappropriate for us to sit and talk with a land owner who wants to bring a project forward to the planning board,” he continued. “It’s inappropriate for us (elected officials) to sit and negotiate.”
Famie said that in the world she knows, that’s what officials do. “What any large organization wants is a community that’s not fighting them. They want a mayor, the political head of a community to write a letter (of support). It’s not making a deal with anyone. I asked you to be in on a conference call (when you were) mayor, just to hear you say you were interested – let’s make it happen, get a conversation going with Great Wolf. That’s what all the communities do.”
Famie said a rural community, LaGrange, Ga., spent $24 million to entice Great Wolf to come into its town, a suburb of Atlanta.
“For them to get this close, and poof – now I think they are going to Baltimore.”
Deputy Mayor John Kehm said he sat on the Economic Development Committee three years ago when Famie was asking for financial help to hire a consultant for the project. “Why should Tuckerton and Little Egg Harbor put out money if it’s your land?”
Famie said that was a different project he was alluding to, and the consultant she hired for Great Wolf was paid out of her own pocket.
“We would love to have Great Wolf ,but we have to have willing partners,” said Kehm. “Great Wolf has not contacted our planning or zoning departments.”
“They don’t do that; communities court them,” said Famie.
Gormley said he had done his homework, and Great Wolf had also considered Bader Field and Great Adventure besides Little Egg.
“The state’s incentive plan sunsets in June,” he added. “Where is the applicant? They could come in informally (to the planning board). It needs planning board approval, it needs CAFRA (Coastal Area Facilities Review Act) approval, it needs DOT access approval and any number of environmental approvals. We don’t know the specifics of that site. I can’t do the wetlands determination.”
“All I needed was a letter that Little Egg Harbor was interested,” said Famie. “What does the township need? A new fire department, a baseball field?
“These people don’t need you, you need them,” said Famie.
Famie also said she would be increasing surveillance at the site because it’s a liability issue to allow folks to use the land as they do now, for dirt biking.
The land is the site of a former asphalt plant, Gormley said. “It’s never been cleaned up, and she wants us to do it for her,” he said after the meeting.
— Pat Johnson
Sandy Farrell-Rolzhausen
that would be cool
Samantha Rodriguez
William Boyer Jr.
Jackie Elizabeth Zach Lussier CJ Mac Cait Marie we need to go
Samantha Pasquale Ryan
Tara Sinacori-Hammonds
Heard about this awhile back.
that was the first time they were here this is new lol
Joe Bonicky that’s odd because I distinctly remember hearing this mentioned months ago. Possibly casually, but I know I heard they were looking at our area.
Joe Bonicky I found this from 2017 in the newswatch page. I knew I wasn’t losing it, lol.
Great chain, terrible, terrible location
Tim MacDonald why?
Just my opinion of course, but I think there’s a big difference between the resort type water park hotels (like great wolf, Kalahari, aquatopia, etc), and the day trip parks like Sahara Sams. The resorts work best when they have more open area around, usually off a highway exit (like parkway or turnpike), as opposed to near the center of a town and off a road like route 9. I think the Poconos is a perfect example of ideal location.
I wouldn’t be opposed to the chain coming here, I just think it wouldn’t be as successful as it could, and devalue the premium brand it is, catering more towards day trippers like Sahara Sams.
Joann Bower Schulze
Steven George Rivera could you imagine??
Terrible location
Olivia Nunn
Christa Lynn could you imagine!
Keep that in Pennsylvania Jeez
David J Galvao Rose Miller Gowesky Jennifer Zawada Christine Gowesky Ward
Annmarie Vaccaro less travel next time
Heather Allen oh wow, the travel wasn’t bad at all actually, thankfully Owen slept both ways!
Tricia Stoffers
Barbara Ann no way!!!
Tricia Stoffers yup. How cool right
And Toms River misses once again?
Tim Reid
Because TR is the most business-unfriendly place!
Rather have this in jackson than the new sports complex they are building
Thomas Helle plenty of room in Jackson for it still.
Not for long if they keep knocking down and developing everything
No, leave Jackson for the Lakewood overflow.
Alicia Campbell
Kimberly Oriole
Kristina McCrohan
Tracey Marie
Nooooooo
Can I just get a damn Chick Filet?
Shanon Conlon Exel lmao
Shanon Conlon Exel leave for lunch early and bring it back
Michelle Robbins-Hallock lets sneak out!
Shanon Conlon Exel or we can make ray go
Michelle Robbins-Hallock now you’re talking!
Shanon Conlon Exel lol
I would love that. But honestly, I’m surprised they haven’t chosen either Atlantic City or perhaps something in the northern part of the state (perhaps Bergen County, far away enough from their Poconos location). If this happens, I’ll definitely welcome it with open arms. It would just be completely surprising and out of left field.
Michael De Fortuna
Atlantic City would be perfect
Ocean County Scanner News thought we were getting a indoor water in ac?
Ocean County Scanner News just what AC needs to get families back in there!!!
Amanda Lopez
Rebecca Parliman Malloy
Sounds like a great idea and opportunity for the area
Tom Parker
As I was planning on booking a trip to the one in the Poconos lol. I think I’d still rather travel there than 2 minutes down the street where this idea is being considered here in town. I just don’t feel this is a good enough location for something like this, it’s such a small town. It’s a nice area but something about this, I feel it would be very random here. Maybe a little more south?
Nicole Cowens FYI anywhere else Great Wolf is a great option, but in the Poconos, Kalahari and Aquatopia (Camelback mountain) are far superior. That’s the first great wolf, and getting pretty dated, and much smaller than the competition. With specials factored in, about the same price/more expensive.
Tim MacDonald oh! Yeah the other day I was looking on their website to book a trip for my family and I’m considering it but I’m also entertaining other places to go. It looks like fun but I’ve heard mixed reviews.
Nicole Cowens we head to kalahari 2-3 times a year. If you like their Facebook page, they announce specials every Tuesday. Usually once at least every month or two they will have non-weekend buy one night get one free. If your schedule can be flexible, that deal is amazing. Couldn’t recommend that place enough.
Tim MacDonald I’ll definitely check them out! Thank u so much!
Nicole Cowens we can go on vacation and literally walk there ??
Meliss Marie LOL a hop, skip, & a jump away!! ??
Darth Dave
Natasha Martinez
Kelly Edmond omg please Jesus lol I will buy a lifetime membership lol
Tierney Suzann
Sashamarie Bernard
Kelly Clayton
Kelly Edmond
Sashamarie Bernard I know!!!!
Mini vacation
I used to live down the street from there and went all the time ☺️
Brit Sisco nice!!!
Susan Rygiel Montagne
Amanda Montagne I saw that
Kick Dust Laczynski
Whatttt people travel man specially good for campgrounds people to come spend money it’s great I go up to Poconos for this place fun for families. Bring in the dough
Just what we need. More tourists that drive like assholes and will let the door slam in your face going into a wawa. They can take that elsewhere.
Colin Wade
Erin Wade ❤️
this just goes to show Little Egg committee is a bunch OF FUCKING MORONS…. You just lost a shit ton of money…..
Breanna Morey Amy Courtright Amy to bad could of moved here lol
Kevin Joe whaaaaat ???
Amy Courtright I’d totally apply BTW
Will Algor
Luis Martinez
David Wulffen Sr.
Brendan Schatek
Amy Lowe
Candice ?
Diana Hedrick Lane
Amy Courtright hmmmm. ?
Nicole Danielle
That would be a great place for kids parties without having to drive hours, but kind of in a weird location. ?♀️?
Drew
Jamie DiLeo-Thomas you could go all the time
Jacqueline Balle
Never route 9 is not wide enough for all that traffic would have to be right off the parkway
Kalahari is way better
Cheryl Durkin-Munroe Shannon Leigh Alana Munroe
Wow, that would be exciting!
Kyle Munroe , this would be so much better than driving to Pennsylvania!
Diane Guzman Edwards
& Amy you are going to Texas??? Maybe they’ll ask you back to this new resort!! LOL
Nickole Camburn that’s cool af!!
Connie Robinson weekend getaways for you Brad and kids lmfao
Nickole Camburn right I like going to PA ….it would be more of a day thing
Rachel Mc
Should make it into a motocross track for dirt bikes and quads.
We travel up there often , the retables it would collect, JOBS . And income to surrounding businesses. Sounds like the race track that a lot of people wanted years ago. Another reason we can’t get nice things in our area . Too much fighting
Jenn Lynn Kelsey Broderick?
Ja Nay Marie wait say wwhhhaaatttt
Lola Burgess
James Strandberg
Chelsea Sheedy wtf what a horrible location. If it’s not cheap as hell to stay there’s no point lol
Go get them Linda Fahmie!!!
Denise Thatcher Jeffery Thatcher
Becky Allen-Kushner
Sarah Creutzinger this happens I’m outta here.
Becky Allen-Kushner it would be really strange if it did. What a weird spot.
Debbie Perrine DonnaMarie Perrine Stacy Krause Melissa Perrine Zapata yayyyy!!
Hope they can keep the green heads out. ?
Meghan Riess Matty Ramone
Bonnie Abel Iaria YEEEEES
I still think Atlantic City with a casino attached is a better idea, that’s a whole family vacation in one spot lolo
Michael Allotta!
I would 100% visit!
Lori Ann Pascarella noooooooo they can’t do this I love my quiet little town.
Brian Thompson
Allie
Meghan Meehan
Meghan Meehan
Seems like this is dead in the water and that Great Wolf was trying to get a bidding war going see who would give them the best incentives to come in
Hello All,
The Route 9 corridor in Little Egg Harbor is designated for commercial ratables. Of all the uses possible, I believe Great Wold Lodge would have been a very desirable and attractive addition to the LEH commercial community. Copies of the GWL economic impact studies of other communities who “courted” and secured a GWL Resort, were made available to the town and whomever wanted to review them. If reviewed, the substantial positive economic impact, which would add to the LEH income base and help releive the ever increasing tax burden, would have been clear. For that reason, semi-rural towns are doing what ever they can to welcome Great Wolf Lodge. GWL Resorts are visually pleasant and attract mostly families with younger children who would also patronize other business such as the Pine Cone, Rita’s Ice, and other retailers. FYI – A review by David Sangree, who is an expert in the site selection for major water parks and the New Jersey Buisnes Action Center reviewed and confirmed the site would be a good fit for an indoor waterpark resort.
Regards,
Linda Fahmie